by James Palmer
The others nodded, mumbling in the affirmative.
“I will do all I can to protect you,” said Drizda. “You have all shown me great honor these past few weeks.”
Hudson navigated the shuttle up and around the big ship toward an opening that had formed in the vessel’s rear. Navigation beacons switched on, the magnetic beams guiding the shuttle in as Hudson slowly decreased their speed. In another few minutes they were inside.
The ship’s interior was much brighter than Hamilton had expected.
“Atmospheric pressure normalized,” said Hudson, checking the shuttle’s instruments.
“Open her up,” ordered Hamilton.
The shuttle’s main hatch opened outward, forming a ramp. Awaiting them outside was a squad of six Draconi warriors, mostly male, wearing crimson uniforms and brandishing lethal-looking pulse rifles.
Hamilton let Drizda step out first. “We request an audience with Grand Leader Kark immediately,” she said.
“You’re in no position to request anything, casteless one,” growled the squad’s leader. He was a big, imposing dragon with a wide white scar on his snout just below his left eye.
Hamilton stepped out next. “We humbly request to speak with your captain according to Article 8 Subsection B of our treaty.”
The squad all clicked their teeth together. “This war makes your precious treaty null and void, mammal,” said their leader.
“What is your name?” asked Hamilton.
“I am Grand Leader Kark’s second in command, Sub Leader Zarn.”
“Sub Leader Zarn,” said Drizda. “We have information vital to this campaign. I must deliver it to Grand Leader Kark immediately.
“The Leader is in no mood for more of your lies, casteless one.”
“These aren’t lies,” said Hamilton. “Let Kark make that decision for herself.”
Zarn looked at Hamilton, and he got the feeling he knew what it was like for the first proto-mammal to be scarfed down by a T-Rex. “Fine,” said Zarn. “We will escort you to the bridge. Fetter the mammals!”
Drizda started to protest, but Hamilton put a hand on her shoulder. He and the others let themselves be placed in heavy magnetic manacles and marched up to the bridge. Drizda he did not chain, but shoved along in front of him as they walked.
“The prisoners request an audience with you, my Leeader” bellowed Kark as he pushed Drizda through the hatch of the Razor’s command deck.
Hamilton moved through the opening after Kark, his face covered in sweat. It was hot on board the Draconi ship, and humid.
Kark looked them over slowly, one by one, a predator sizing up her prey. “Where is Captain Kuttner?”
“He died attacking the real threat,” said Hamilton. “Colonel Straker.”
Kark’s eyes flickered as her nictitating membranes slid quickly back and forth over her eyes. A nervous tell? The Draconi were still difficult to read, but thanks to his contact with Drizda, Hamilton was getting better at it.
“He tells the truth, my Leader,” said one of the crew. “Two Navy ships have just impacted. The smaller vessel was almost completely destroyed.”
“So the Navy attack each other now,” said Kark, clicking her teeth in amusement. “It will make our victory that much easier.”
“But you’re still ignoring the real threat,” said Hamilton. “The Swarm probes. Straker means to use them against you.”
“More lies!”
Drizda stepped toward her, causing Zarn to move in between them. Drizda ignored him, looking over his shoulder at the Razor’s captain. “He tells the truth. We sent you everything you need to see these are not lies. Why will you not examine them?”
“How dare you question our Leader, casteless zhakt!” growled Zarn.
Drizda flashed her teeth at him, a clear sign of aggression.
“Maybe because she was working with Straker,” said Hamilton.
“Work with a human?” said Kark. “Never!”
“Then explain to your crew how you were able to find and attack the Onslaught. You had our precise coordinates, yes? Who gave them to you?”
The other members of her crew looked at her warily now. Zarn turned toward her. “You did seem to know exactly where the Onslaught was, in all this chaos.”
“You dare question me, my Second? I will rip out your throat with my teeth.”
“You were working with Straker,” said Drizda. “Conspiring against your own people.”
“What of you, casteless one? You have been helping them this entire time. I know who you are. Your theories are sacrilege. That is why you are without family or title or--”
“They could have killed me,” said Drizda, stepping up onto the dais to face Kark. The rest of Kark’s crew seemed taken aback by this; clearly it was a major breach in Draconi protocol. Zarn stepped away and moved quickly to one of the workstations behind Kark’s command chair, saying something in low tones to the Draconi stationed there.
“They took me aboard their ship, not as a prisoner, but as a trusted adviser. Together we learned the truth,” said Drizda. “This war is not meant to be.”
“You have developed the humans’ haughty manner, scientist,” Kark spat. “You have no family, no caste mark. To me you are lower than a hatchling.”
“And to me you are completely without honor!”
Kark stepped back as if struck. “How dare you!” Her long tail swished angrily behind her.
Zarn left the workstation and returned to the dais.
“Zarn, put her in chains with the others. Prepare the humans for our next meal.”
“No,” said Zarn.
Kark glared at him. “What?”
“They are telling the truth,” said her second in command. “I had our tightbeam logs for the past several hours pulled. It was encrypted, but we decoded it. The human Straker contacted you and told you about the humans’ ship.”
“So? What of it? We’ve captured the crew of the Onslaught. What I do, I do for the glory of the Egg Mother and the Empress.”
“What you do only brings glory to yourself,” said Drizda.
“Are you ready to die for your words?” said Kark.
“I am. I hereby challenge you in accordance with our laws and traditions.”
Kark clicked her teeth together. “You wish to challenge me? But you are casteless. You have no title, no property. What do you forfeit when I gut you?”
“My life, and the lives of this fine crew,” said Drizda evenly. She glanced once at Hamilton, whose face had turned white.
“Who will echo your challenge?” said Kark. “The humans cannot. They are not Draconi.”
“I will,” said Zarn.
Kark stared at him, her yellow eyes narrowed to slits. Zarn returned her stare. One by one, the rest of the bridge crew chimed in as well.
Hamilton nodded grimly. Kark’s crew didn’t trust her anymore. That was something, at least. He didn’t know if they would survive another hour, but it was something.
Chapter 37
Ascension
Once the formalities of ritual combat were out of the way, Hamilton and the rest of the Onslaught’s command crew were escorted in chains to a room apparently designed for that purpose. It was round, like a fighting arena, with a slightly raised floor in the center that appeared to be covered in old, faded blood stains. The walls were lined with some sort of artificial rock, and it was even hotter in there than it had been on the command deck of the alien ship.
Everyone lined up along the edge of the raised platform while Kark and Drizda hunched low, circling each other, each of them growling low in their throats, their tails swishing back and forth.
Suddenly the two closed on each other and grappled. Claws slash, drawing blood. As Hamilton watched he considered the odds. Kark was a seasoned commander of a warship, a soldier. Drizda was a scientist. The two were worlds apart, especially in this highly regimented society. But Hamilton had watched Drizda hold her own before. Still, he worried for her.
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Kark raked Drizda’s chest with her claws, shredding her uniform. Drizda whipped her tail around into Kark’s feet, knocking her off balance before coming down on top of her, gouging Kark in the side before the captain regained her footing, throwing Drizda off of her. The two circled each other again, bleeding onto the platform and adding to the grisly tableau that marked its worn surface.
Their small, vestigial wings flexed weakly as they engaged once more, this time going after each other with their teeth, their mouths wide open. It was an odd strategy, as it kept their eyes off of their opponent, but if even the smallest bite struck home it would do a lot of damage. Drizda head-butted Kark, knocking her to the side. Then she flung her tail up into the side of Kark’s head, sending her reeling.
Grand Leader Kark gave a furious roar as she charged Drizda. Claws and tail went flying as she assaulted Drizda with everything she had, her emotions getting the better of her.
This seemed to be just what Drizda wanted. She remained calm, clearly remembering whatever limited combat training she had had as a member of the scientist caste. It was enough. She countered Kark’s blows and, when she saw an opening, grabbed her and twisted her around. Grabbing her snout and snapping Kark’s head up and back, Drizda casually drew a talon across her throat, opening a deep wound that spilled a lot of blood onto the dais. She let Kark fall sputtering and gurgling to the platform to die.
“I claim ascension by ritual combat,” Drizda proclaimed as the Draconi crew rushed to check on their fallen captain. ““All of Grand Leader Kark’s holdings, titles, and property shall transfer to me. Including command of this vessel. Does anyone wish to challenge my ascension?”
She looked around, staring each of the Draconi captain’s former crew in the eye.
“Hail Grand Leader Drizda!” shouted Zarn after a long moment. The others growled in agreement.
Hamilton exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
“What are your orders, my Leader?” said Zarn.
“Release the humans,” said Drizda. “They are prisoners no longer. See to their comforts. I appoint Commander Hamilton as my advisor.”
Zarn bowed. “As you command.”
Hamilton held out his hands as his manacles were released, along with the others.
“I can’t believe what just happened,” muttered Lt. Cade. “That was amazing.”
“The show’s not over yet,” said Hamilton.
Drizda stepped off the platform even as a Draconi medic was dabbing at her wounds. “What next, Commander?”
“We need to find out the status of the Armitage,” he said. “And we still have to do something about the Swarm.
“Let’s return to the command level.”
Hamilton placed his hand on her shoulder. “But you’re bleeding.”
“Minor injuries. I will be fine. Now let’s go.”
Hamilton stared after her appraisingly. He looked at Hudson, Cade and Brackett. “Well, you heard the lady. She’s in charge.”
Chapter 38
Leda and the Probe
Leda knelt beside the faintly humming Swarm probe while the command deck erupted into chaos. She was still trying to process everything the probe had made her see and feel, flashes of it filling her mind’s eye as she tried to figure out just what was going on around her.
“Sir,” said the Armitage’s female gunner. “The Onslaught is moving to intercept. They’re charging up their guns.”
“What is that damned old fool doing?” said Straker. “Come about!”
The Armitage shuddered, and Leda heard the familiar sound of a muffled explosion. She turned and looked at the ship’s main viewer, where the Onslaught grew closer and closer, its ion cannons spitting blue streams of death at the larger capital ship.
The Armitage shuddered again, and another concussion thundered through the vessel. The Onslaught had struck something vital.
“Raise the Onslaught,” said Straker.
“They’re refusing our hails,” said the communications officer.
“Damn him!” Straker roared. “Blow them to stardust.”
Leda looked at the alien probe, her eyes scanning its ancient, pockmarked surface. Her hand ran over its skin. She could feel it pulsing with life and intelligence. It had spoken to her. It was still speaking to her. There was one overriding feeling, one dominant emotion as clear as her own urges.
Hunger.
Leda lowered her left hand that still held the dangling manacle to the floor, near one of the probe’s manipulators. It suddenly leaped into action, scissoring the manacles from her wrist cleanly and devouring them.
The ship rocked again, knocking Leda to the deck. The probe rocked where it stood. Leda raised up and unplugged the power coupling.
“He’s going to ram us!” said one of the officers.
“Destroy that ship,” Straker said.
Leda watched as the probe began to eat through the decking around it, and it immediately began to change. Its pitted skin grew smooth, its damaged pincers and manipulators started to miraculously grow back.
Straker and his crew were oblivious to what the probe was doing. They were too preoccupied with the bulk of the Onslaught rushing toward them at great speed.
“Turn about,” said Straker. “Get us out of here.”
“Helm is slow to respond, sir.”
“Just do it! They’re going to ram us.”
Leda wrapped her arms around the vibrating probe, squeezing her eyes shut. She hoped the probe could feel her thoughts as she could the probe’s. She thought one word at it. Help.
A metal tentacle snaked up to wrap gently around her hand. She reeled at the contact, fearing it would consume her, but the touch wasn’t hostile.
The Armitage rocked sharply to the left, and something at the opposite end of the command deck exploded in a shower of sparks. Warning klaxons blared.
“I thought you said you could handle that old fool Kuttner,” Weber muttered.
“Let’s get out of here,” said Straker, ignoring him “All hands, abandon ship!”
Straker ran for the exit hatch, followed closely by Weber, Tucker and Moreland. Another control panel exploded. Leda checked the viewer. The Onslaught was falling apart, but what was left of it was going to collide with the Armitage in moments. If she was going to survive the next few minutes she needed to do something fast.
The marine wobbled toward her, stun stick in hand, but the rocking of the deck made his footing unsure. Leda kicked out, connecting solidly with his right knee. She heard a loud crack as he screamed, dropping to the deck, his stun stick rolling away.
Leda pounced on him, punching him hard in the face until he no longer moved. She yanked his needle gun out of its holster and spun, crouching on one knee.
All of this happened in the space of a few seconds; Straker and the others were still trying to leave the command deck, and fighting over which of them should be allowed to go through the portal first. Leda aimed and fired, hitting Moreland in the left shoulder blade. He spun, spat red mist, and fell.
She aimed at Straker, but he pushed Weber away from him, into the line of fire. The cloud of flechettes caught him in the neck, eviscerating soft tissue. He fell in a heap next to Moreland.
Leda aimed again but Straker was gone. The command deck officers had fled too in search of the nearest lifepod. Leda knew she wouldn’t have that option.
She dropped the now empty weapon and hugged against the Swarm probe, which was now raising itself up on manipulators beneath it. “Whatever you’re going to do, you’d better do it now,” she said.
The alien probe began to vibrate, its pincers and manipulators moving faster than she could see. The deck beneath them disappeared, and was replaced by…something else. The space darkened as the probe encased them both within a metallic sphere. She reached up and touched it, feeling its texture. Fullerene?
The probe finished its work just as there was a final, violent shudder, the sphere jostling them insid
e it as it bounced around wildly. There was a final concussion and suddenly Leda and the probe were floating weightless inside the dark sphere.
“Well, we’re free of the ship,” she murmured. “Now what?”
Chapter 39
Straker
The small, retrofitted warsprite made it clear of the Armitage just as it fell apart, Colonel Straker sitting confidently before the controls. “Proxima,” he said.
The ship’s dutiful AI hummed to life. “Yes, Colonel Straker?”
“Tightbeam the Swarm. Send them the transformation sequence we developed.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
Straker grinned. It wasn’t over, not by a long shot. He would still get his way. The Draconi homeworld would still be exterminated. And he had just the weapon that would do it.
He had already set course for the last known location of the Swarm, and the fast vessel was almost there. He watched on the viewer as he neared them. They had finished disassembling the Heinlein; now they clustered together, awaiting further instructions. Such loyal little creatures.
Straker watched, fascinated, as the signal he’d sent goaded them into action once more. This time, instead of moving on in search of another ship to devour, the alien probes linked together, extruding flat sheets of some dull gray metal. They ran off kilometers of the stuff, until you couldn’t see the individual probes at all. They had combined, becoming something much bigger than each of them could be alone.
“Beautiful,” said Straker. “Now destroy the Draconi for me. Kill them all.”
“A Draconi vessel is heading this way,” said Proxima. “Designation the Razor.”
“Kark’s ship,” said Straker. He considered his options. Their working relationship had never been friendly, and she had probably been clued in to his subterfuge.
“Set a course for the Q-gate,” said Straker. “Max speed. It’s time to bug out.”